The morning after everything, I woke up in a tangle of sheets and silence.
Zihan wasn't next to me, but the warmth in the spot where he'd slept still lingered. It was strange — the comfort like we had crossed an invisible line neither of us wanted to admit existed and yet, the truth was still out there.
Liang Yunmei. Her threat, her presence and her obsession.
Zihan said he would handle her but I'd learned not to put blind faith in promises — no matter how gently they were whispered.
I arrived at the gallery earlier than usual, craving structure something to anchor me, something to pull my mind away from the chaos that constantly circled Zihan's world.
It didn't work because just before noon, a courier arrived with a single black box.
There was no card.
Inside the box was a designer necklace emerald stones surrounded by diamonds, delicate as lace and twice as expensive.
I knew that brand. It was Liang Yunmei's favorite.
I closed the lid with trembling hands and handed it back to the courier. "Return it to the sender."
He hesitated. "She said you'd refuse. She also said to tell you… there's more coming."
The courier left before I could stop him.
I stood frozen in the middle of the gallery, breath shallow, chest tight.
She wasn't done. Not even close.
That evening, Zihan came home early.
I could tell by the way he loosened his tie that something was bothering him.
"She sent you something, didn't she?" he asked without looking up.
I nodded, walking past him into the kitchen. "A necklace with a message."
His jaw tensed. "I told her to stay away."
"Well, she didn't listen and she's getting bolder."
He walked in after me, voice low. "I'll take care of it."
"You keep saying that," I said, spinning around to face him. "But she keeps getting closer. This isn't just some jealous ex anymore. She's trying to scare me, Zihan."
His eyes flared. "She won't touch you."
"That's not the point!" I snapped. "I shouldn't have to wonder if she's going to be outside my job, or send something to my family, or—" I choked. "Or show up here when you're not home."
Zihan's face darkened. "I'll get a restraining order."
I laughed bitterly. "You think a piece of paper will stop her? You know the kind of people she's connected to."
He stepped forward, his voice softer now. "Then tell me what you want me to do."
I stared at him and I said what I hadn't dared to say out loud until now.
"I want space."
Zihan stilled. His expression unreadable.
"I need to breathe," I continued. "I need to remember who I was before all of this. Before the lies, before the headlines, before Liang Yunmei turned me into a pawn in whatever game you two are playing."
"I'm not playing games."
"Then prove it. Let me go just for a while."
He looked like I had slapped him.
But after a long, tense silence, he finally nodded.
"I'll have your things moved back to your apartment," he said. "You can keep the driver. I'll double your security."
"I don't need your money."
"It's not about money," he said quietly. "It's about keeping you safe."
I left that night with a single suitcase and a phone full of unread messages from people I didn't want to hear from.
Except one.
Yingjie, from the gallery, sent me a voice note:
"I don't know what's going on, but if you need a distraction… I got invited to this private art auction. It's high-end, mostly collectors and press. Thought you might like a night out."
For the first time in days, I let myself smile.
The auction was held at the Celestial Hotel, a towering beacon of glass and wealth that made even the richest guests feel small.
I wore a sleek black dress with a high slit — one I hadn't worn since before Zihan.
The moment I stepped inside, eyes followed me but I didn't feel self-conscious.
I felt powerful.
Yingjie met me near the bar. "You look like a femme fatale."
"I feel like one."
We laughed, and for a moment, I felt normal again. Like Li Xue — the woman who chased dreams, not scandals.
Until I saw him.
Wu Zihan.
Standing near the gallery preview, dressed in midnight-black, eyes locked on mine like I was the only person in the room.
Yingjie followed my gaze. "Is that—"
"Yeah."
"You didn't tell me he was coming."
"I didn't know."
He started walking toward me.
I turned away.
I wasn't ready to talk. Not here, not when we were supposed to be apart.
But he caught up.
"Li Xue," he said, gently touching my arm.
I turned. "This is supposed to be space."
"I wasn't here for you."
"Then leave."
He looked at me — not angry, not sad. Just still.
"I didn't know you'd be here either," he said. "But now that you are… can we talk?"
I glanced at Yingjie. She raised her brows and stepped back politely.
We moved to a quieter corner.
"I thought we agreed—" I started.
"I made a mistake."
I blinked.
"I should've fought harder," he said. "For you. For us. Instead, I let her manipulate the situation again."
"She won't stop, Zihan."
"I know. But I will."
He reached into his coat and handed me a folded document.
I opened it.
It was a press release already signed and approved by his board.
'CEO Wu Zihan Confirms His Marriage to Li Xue: "She is My Wife in Every Way That Matters."'
My heart stilled.
"This is going live tomorrow," he said. "I wanted to make it public. Official. Not just for our families, not for business but for us."
I didn't know what to say.
"I want the world to know who you are to me," he added. "Not pretend, not temporary and definitely not hidden."
Tears burned behind my eyes.
"I don't know if I can do this again," I whispered.
"You don't have to decide tonight," he said. "Just know — I've made my choice."
He walked away without waiting for an answer.
But somehow… that said everything.